by United Roofing MN | May 12, 2011
Roof Damage Caused by Hail in Albertville, MN Most people in Minnesota don’t recognize they have hail damage to their roof, siding, or fascia materials. The impact of hail damage can loosen, fracture or remove granules from your asphalt shingles. Hail can leave tiny to large pits in your siding and fascia as well. The granules protect the asphalt from sunlight and Ultra Violet Light (UV). The roofing asphalt will deteriorate very quickly once it has had hail impact and is exposed to the sun. This is the reason hail damaged roofs will prematurely fail. Hail damaged roofs may or may not show up immediately as visual damage to the inexperienced observer. In some cases, the effects may not be visible or evident for about a year or more. The effects of a hailstorm void the shingles manufacturer’s warranty, as they cannot warrant against “Mother Nature” such as hailstorms. How To Determine If Your Roof Has Hail Damage To be able to detect roof hail damage, it’s important that you do a roof inspection after a hail storm. Please make sure you exercise all necessary caution while doing so!! Check in and around the roofing shingles for signs of damage. For example, you may notice dents on the shingles of varying sizes, from small to large. In addition check the metal vents, if these have been damaged; it’s a good sign of roof hail damage too. If you have asphalt shingles, you should check for a collection of asphalt granules in the roof gutter. These may be settled or evenly distributed along the gutter. This is another sure sign...
by United Roofing MN | May 10, 2011
Buying a New Roof System Minneapolis MN Buying a New Roof and Getting Your Money’s Worth The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is pleased to provide you with this information as part of our ongoing effort to educate home and building owners about roofing and roofing contractors. We hope this information will make you a more knowledgeable consumer and, when the time comes, a smart roof system buyer. A new roof system is a big investment. We want to help you get a quality roof system at a fair price from a professional roofing contractor. Roof System Components All steep-slope roof systems (i.e., roofs with slopes of 25 percent or more) have five basic components: Roof covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that protect the sheathing from weather. Sheathing: boards or sheet material that are fastened to roof rafters to cover a house or building. Roof structure: rafters and trusses constructed to support the sheathing. Flashing: sheet metal or other material installed into a roof system’s various joints and valleys to prevent water seepage. Drainage: a roof system’s design features, such as shape, slope and layout that affect its ability to shed water. Choosing a Roof System There are a number of factors to consider when selecting a new roof system. Of course, cost and durability head the list, but aesthetics and architectural style are important too. The right roof system for your home or building is one that balances these five considerations. The following roofing products commonly used for steep-slope structures Asphalt shingles possess an overwhelming share of the U.S. steep-slope roofing market and can be...
by United Roofing MN | Apr 12, 2011
Minneapolis MN Asphalt Roof Shingles Guide To Selecting Your Asphalt Shingles For Minnesota Homeowners ~ Part 3 The Roof Environment Let’s visit the roof environment. Subjected to harsh environmental weathering, shingles must endure everything from the scorching heat of the sun and its ultraviolet radiation, to the effects of seasonal and environmental changes. They may even be subjected to the effects of thermal shock, caused by quickly changing weather conditions. The Heat of the Sun The scorching heat of the sun can raise the temperature of the roof’s surface as high as 25 – 33ºC (45 – 60ºF) above ambient temperature. This can affect the life expectancy of asphalt shingles. Proper ventilation helps to reduce the fluctuation in the temperature of your roof over the course of the day, and can reduce your roof’s overall ambient temperature. Ultraviolet Radiation from the Sun Besides the heat, the sun is also a source of ultraviolet radiation, which can make the asphalt layer of the shingles age more rapidly. In order to protect against this, asphalt shingles are covered by colored granules to protect the asphalt from the sun. Thermal Shock and Cyclical Fatigue Sudden changes in weather can put an enormous stress on your roof. As an example, a cold front may enter an area and change a bright and sunny day into a dark and rainy one, suddenly dropping roof surface temperatures 30 – 45ºC (54 – 81ºF) almost instantaneously. This may cause the roof deck beneath the shingles to expand and contract, causing stress on the asphalt shingles. This process, along with the yearly change from summer to winter,...
by United Roofing MN | Apr 7, 2011
Residential Roofing MN | Roofing Company Minneapolis MN Guide To Selecting Your Asphalt Shingles For Minnesota Homeowners – Part 2 It is useful to look at the anatomy of an asphalt shingle to understand how the different components work together, and to see how asphalt shingles are designed to protect your home. The life expectancy of asphalt shingles is based on the performance of three components, and their ability to resist weathering. Made from petroleum, asphalt contains oils that make asphalt shingles easy to work with and effective at protecting your roof and home. As time goes on, these oils come to the surface and are weathered away by the elements. This weathering process ages a shingle. The Anatomy of an Asphalt Shingle Reinforcement: Asphalt shingles start out with an asphalt-coated fiberglass mat. This reinforcement is the structural base of the shingle, to which the other raw materials (asphalt and granules) are applied. In order for asphalt shingles to provide protection, the reinforcement must resist tearing, warping and shrinkage when applied on stable, well-ventilated decks. Asphalt: During shingle manufacturing, the reinforcement is coated with asphalt to provide the water-resistant layer that protects your roof from the elements. The thickness of this layer of asphalt determines the weight of the shingle. Many believe that the heavier the shingle the greater the protection offered to your roof and home. This factor is only one of many that determines the life expectancy of your roof. Granules: A layer of granules is pressed into the surface of the asphalt. The granules protect the layer of asphalt from the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. ...
by United Roofing MN | Apr 4, 2011
Residential Roofing Contractor MN | Roof Company Minneapolis Minnesota Guide To Selecting Your Asphalt Shingles For Minnesota Homeowners ~ Part 1 As you start preparing to have a new asphalt shingle roof installed, it may seem to be a long and complex task. It is important to remember how important this process is, since it will directly affect what is probably your largest single investment – your home. In order to simplify this process, we have developed a guide to help you through the many choices to be made. We walk you through the different styles of asphalt shingles available, and give you the easiest way to start the process. Getting involved in each step of the process is advisable to do away with any hassles that may crop up later. The first step in the life of your asphalt shingle roof is selecting a shingle. At first glance, with so many different styles and colors to choose from, it may seem a little intimidating. But when you get right down to it, there are really only four decisions to make. 1. Selecting a Shingle Style The different styles of shingles can be divided into two basic categories: Architectural shingles and Traditional 3-Tab Design shingles. The first type is the architectural shingle. Their remarkable dimensional thickness and deep, blended shadow bands simulate the appearance of classic wood shakes, enhancing the beauty of any home. The traditional 3-tab design shingle gets its name from the three tabs incorporated into its profile. Always a popular choice, traditional 3-tab shingles are available in a wide variety of colors. 2. Choosing a Limited...
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